Waste management strategies that focus on reduction, reuse and recycling have an immediate environmental impact through diverting waste from landfills and conserving natural resources. Although recycling is practiced in many cities around the world and especially in developed countries, little attention has been paid to the challenges associated with it in small island communities. Furthermore, research has focused predominantly on waste management practices carried out by local governments and private corporations rather than by non-profit community groups. This thesis examines the assets and barriers of community-based recycling operations on Mayne and Hornby Islands in British Columbia, Canada. The study develops a methodological framework for assessing community-based recycling and utilizes qualitative research tools to achieve the research objectives. Theoretical pillars of social economy, community-building and environmental education are examined in this case study. The research purports that the community recycling groups are central to building social capital and inculcating environmental awareness on the islands as well as to contributing to the wider social economy network. Co-management partnerships between the community recycling groups and local government allow for increased local engagement and participation in resource recovery.

Tourism has the potential of leaving permanent footprints on the physical, cultural and economic environments of tourism destinations. Understanding and managing these footprints is paramount to understanding the industry, and to the successful management of the associated host-guest relationships. Research questions and objectives examine the concepts of tourism carrying capacity and tourism space to determine whether tourism development in Tofino, British Columbia has exceeded its limits of acceptable use. Data were collected through surveys directed to three stakeholder groups; local residents, tourism businesses and tourists. Data were analyzed using quantitative, qualitative and spatial means. The research found that tourism carrying capacity has not been exceeded for the business and tourist participants, but is divided within the resident stakeholder group. Perceived tourism space was similar for all participant groups, but some identified areas did not match the defined boundaries of tourism use set forth by the District of Tofino.

This research was initiated to develop an understanding of the differential radial-growth response of mature mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) trees located along a line of latitude in northwestern British Columbia. Increment core samples were collected from mountain hemlock stands located at five high-elevation sites between the Queen Charlotte Islands and Smithers. Tree ring-width index chronologies were compared to historical precipitation and air temperature data from four climate stations, as well as the El Nino Southern Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. No two mountain hemlock stands had the same growth response to monthly air temperature and precipitation, indicating that the trees are responding to site-specific limiting factors. The response to El Nino Southern Oscillation events was consistent along the transect, while the response to Pacific Decadal Oscillation phase changes was greatest at coastal sites and decreased towards the interior.

This research investigates the difference between indoor and outdoor residential fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and explores the feasibility of predicting residential PM2.5 infiltration for use in exposure assessments. Data were compiled from a previous study conducted in Seattle, Washington, USA and a new monitoring campaign was conducted in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Infiltration factors were then calculated from the indoor and outdoor monitoring data using a recursive mass balance model. A geographic information system (GIS) was created to collect data that could be used to predict residential PM2.5 infiltration. Spatial property assessment data (SPAD) were collected and formatted for both study areas, which provided detailed information on housing characteristics. Regression models were created based on SPAD and different meteorological and temporal variables. Results indicate that indoor PM2.5 is poorly correlated to outdoor PM2.5 due to indoor sources and significant variations in residential infiltration. A model based on a heating and non-heating season, and information on specific housing characteristics from SPAD was able to predict a large portion of the variation within residential infiltration. Such models hold promise for improving exposure assessment for ambient PM2.5.

In Canada, little is known about the governance of private protected areas (PPAs) and their contribution to the public interest. This dissertation evaluates the extent to which PPAs in Canada adhere to generally advanced principles of good governance - Direction, Legitimacy, Fairness, Performance and Accountability - and it assesses their contribution to the public interest. Findings from descriptive analysis of six case studies of Individual, Corporate, Non-Government and First Nation authorities indicate that principles are adhered to with relative vigor and visibility and that the public interest is generally advanced. The governance pattern is not strongly differentiated and it is generally uniform in strengths and limitations. The cases studied were exceptionally strong in fulfilling the principles of Direction and Legitimacy. Management documents not only employed long-term, ecosystem-based approaches, the private areas were shaped by the collaboration and support of a diverse array of interested parties. Public participatory processes remain relatively ad hoc in nature. Issues management occurred in each of the private areas studied. There was no evidence, however, of intractable disputes, suggesting that the principle of Fairness was fulfilled. The principle of Performance was determined to be the weakest across the sector. Generally, appropriate standards are not well defined, monitoring is highly fragmented and there is an absence of reporting on performance outcomes, which creates uncertainty about the standing of protection and conservation values. Accountability is multi-dimensional: accountability to different stakeholders for various goals and activities through different mechanisms is salient. Independent oversight is employed infrequently. Findings also reveal subscription to a broad spectrum of protected area values that are achieved through moral. fiduciary and legal means. The desire to pass along a natural legacy to future generations is a leading feature. Formally expressed values that are widely shared include protection of ecosystems and biological diversity. Public access is generally constrained. Protection in perpetuity is most often guaranteed through instruments that impose obligations upon future land owners. Support for strengthened governance processes and structures would further the complementary role and contribution that this sector can make to the important mission that protected areas seek to accomplish.

Farm-raised marine shrimp are Thailand's most important agricultural export, earning $US 2.4 billion annually in revenues for the government. Thailand's experience with intensive shrimp culture spans almost two decades. First generation marine shrimp farms. located mostly in coastal areas. have given way to a second generation of shrimp farms located in freshwater and brackishwater areas. The success of these second generation farms is attributed to the discovery by farmers that they can successfully cultivate a marine species of shrimp under low-salinity conditions. The nature of this innovation. referred to as inland or low-salinity culture. has greatly increased the potential for establishing shrimp cultivation much further from the coast than previously believed possible. While there are still many coastal shrimp farms. the most significant industry expansion since the mid 1990s has occurred in the irrigated floodplain and delta of Thailand's central plain. The output from low-salinity shrimp culture in freshwater areas now accounts for a large and rising proportion of total Thai production. and is a significant component of world production. This dissertation investigates the development of low-salinity shrimp culture in Thailand. The key findings were the firsthand documentation of the factors contributing to the development of low-salinity shrimp farming in freshwater environments. This study documents the innovations in hatchery and farming techniques. examines the development of the saltwater infrastructure required to sustain inland shrimp ponds. and identifies the land and water management challenges associated with low-salinity culture from both the government and producer perspective. The methodology adopted to achieve the research objectives consisted of secondary data review, farm and key informant surveys utilizing semi-structured interviews. informal interviews and discussions. and statistical description and analysis. The research was completed during four separate field investigations totaling ten months over an eight-year period from 1997 to 2004. Recommendations are offered to improve the environmental management of low-salinity shrimp culture.

Health promotion identifies health as a resource for daily living and emphasizes the reciprocal relationship between people and their environments in creating health (MacDonald, 2002). In this thesis. I explore how community gardening programs can be used to improve the health and well being of vulnerable populations by creating positive changes within their physical and social environments. Furthermore, I address how community gardens can educate and empower these populations to live healthier lifestyles. My research is based on the creation and exploration of a project in Victoria. BC, where homeowners share their backyard vegetable gardens with volunteer gardeners. It is a small-scale qualitative study in the tradition of ethnographic research where the aim is to enhance understanding of phenomena (Johnston, Gregory, Pratt, & Watts. 2000. p. 238). I facilitated the project and monitored the progress of three garden partnerships for six months during Victoria's long growing season in 2005. Using in-depth interviews and participant observation techniques. I was able to come to a deeper understanding of the participants' experience of the project. This thesis addresses how the project may have promoted their health and well-being with specific reference to physical, psychological and social health and well-being. Suggestions for improvements for future application of the project are also provided.

In this study, I present a new approach to prey quantification in the context of the predator-prey relationship between an apex marine predator, the gray whale, (Eschrichtius robustus) and one of its primary prey, mysids (Family Mysidae) in a tertiary foraging area, in Clayoquot Sound, on the west coast of Vancouver, Island, British Columbia. With the use of a remote acoustical sounder, I first quantify mysid patches in the presence of foraging gray whales. Second, I address the biomass in those patches using a new approach to quantification. By creating an estimate of total biomass of mysids in the study area concurrently with the presence of gray whales, I demonstrate the effect that the foraging whales have on their prey. Tracking the changes of the number of whales and the number of patches, including the overall biomass of the patches provides evidence for this relationship. As the number of gray whales in the study area increases steadily from May to July, 2004, the number of mysid patches and biomass decrease during the same period. The number of foraging whales located in the study area ranged from only five in May to thirty-one on July 18th, in a region covering only 25 km of the southwest coast of Flores Island. After this period of foraging, the whales deserted the study area completely, and only one whale was seen during the month of August. The mysid population regroups slightly after the pressure of foraging whales is released, the number of patches and biomass increase a small amount, exhibiting the expected behavioral response of the prey to re-aggregate into tight swarms. The acoustic method for prey quantification is described in detail as this is a first application of this technology to the mysid-gray whale relationship. In this approach, l demonstrate that the Distorted Wave Borne Approximation model (DWBA) is useful to estimate mysid populations. This study provides a key piece in the progression of eight years of ongoing research on the foraging ecology of gray whales in Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia.

Koh Chang Marine National Park is a popular tourist destination located off the east coast of Thailand. Coral reefs are one of the park's main attractions, and thousands of visitors from around the globe enjoy the opportunity to snorkel or dive in the park's clear, warm waters. Rapid growth in Koh Chang's marine tourism industry over the last decade raises concerns about the ability of some reefs to sustain a healthy and attractive environment. Ecological and social impacts associated with increased levels of marine recreation can transform and even permanently destroy both the character of coral reef ecosystems and the quality of the recreation experience, ultimately resulting in declines in tourism demand. The broad objective of this study was to establish a baseline understanding of the social dimensions of the snorkeling industry in Koh Chang, Thailand, and to recommend a suite of management actions that will sustain economic benefits while still yielding the benefits of protecting aesthetic and biological values. The recreation carrying capacity, Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, and Limits of Acceptable Change concepts were used to guide and inform the research. Data were collected using three primary methods: participant observation, unstructured interviews, and structured questionnaires. Personal observations and unstructured interviews allowed for an assessment of the park's environmental, social, and managerial settings. The tour operator questionnaire was designed to measure the size and characteristics of the snorkeling industry, awareness of environmental impacts, and support for visitor management strategies. The questionnaire was completed by eight tour operators. The visitor survey was designed to gain an understanding of the demographics of snorkelers, satisfactions, knowledge and awareness, and crowding. The survey was completed by 716 snorkelers. Results of the visitor survey suggest that snorkelers have a similar demographic profile compared with reef visitors in other parts of the world. Features of the snorkeling trip that had the greatest potential to add to, or detract from visitor experiences were related to the quality of the natural environment, a finding that is consistent with other studies of snorkelers and divers in coral reef settings. The social conditions were rated among the least important influences on visitors' experiences, a somewhat surprising finding as the number of other people is an important indicator of quality of the visitor experience in terrestrial environments. Overall, visitors were generally satisfied with the physical, natural, and social conditions, but the degree of satisfaction varied among individual snorkeling trip features. The lowest levels of satisfaction were expressed for the social conditions and several features related to the quality and condition of the natural environment. Low levels of satisfaction were also expressed for a number of service features. Results from personal observations, unstructured interviews, and questionnaires suggest that the environmental impacts of use may be significant. On a daily basis, reefs were touched, abraded, kicked, and stepped on by snorkelers, and these inappropriate behaviours can cause considerable damage to benthic organisms and the aesthetic appeal of the reefs. Tour operators' perceptions of impact were close to those defined in the recreation ecology literature, but operators may not be aware of the impact of their own behaviour on the marine environment. Over half of visitors perceived the impact of snorkeling on the reef to be "large/very large", suggesting that visitors have some awareness of the environmental impacts of use. The social impacts of use were also significant, as over 90% of visitors reported feeling at least slightly crowded, and 20% felt extremely crowded. Study results also showed that snorkelers are not a homogenous group. Variability in visitor response was explained in part by the recreation specialization framework, and country of origin. Differences between visitors' level of commitment to snorkeling and the underwater world were apparent between specialists and generalists, and specialization helped explain variability in environmental preferences, sensitivity to environmental impact, knowledge and awareness, and sensitivity to crowding. Visitors with different cultural backgrounds also had significantly different participation characteristics, satisfaction levels, knowledge and awareness, and crowding perceptions. Snorkelers are not homogenous, but unfortunately, the recreation settings provided are. Results from personal observations and interviews suggest that tour operators provide a single, uniform type of snorkeling experience that can be characterized as undeveloped with low levels of regimentation and moderate to high levels of use. Given the variability in the visitor population, provision of a single recreation opportunity may leave many snorkelers less than fully satisfied. This study identified several imminent threats to the quality of the visitor experience, reef conservation, and the sustainable' of the snorkeling industry. Active visitor management planning and resource protection programmes are urgently needed to balance park uses with the capability of the reefs to sustain such use indefinitely. Recommendations that contribute to improved visitor management and reef conservation are provided.

This thesis examines the invasiveness of English ivy (Hedera helix L..: Araliaceae). an exotic horticultural species, in 14 near-urban parks in Greater Victoria. British Columbia. Using descriptive notes from field observations, the overall invasiveness of H. helix is assessed in each park, particularly near park boundaries. Land use associated with the fragmentation of natural habitat directly outside each park is characterised and related to invasion inside the park. Only three of the 14 representative parks examined are not invaded by P. helix. and four are very extensively invaded. ' The analysis of administrative park boundaries supports the hypothesis that H. helix begins invasion inside park boundaries that are adjacent to established residential areas. H. helix is found in moist forest communities of grand fir (Abies grandis) bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) and western redcedar (Thuja plicata). Communities c f Garry oak (Quercus garryana) with black hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii) and English hawthorn (C. monogyna) are heavily invaded and vulnerable to invasion' However. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forest communities are most heavily invaded and especially at risk of invasion. H helix climbs at least 17 species of trees and tall shrubs. with Douglas-fir trees providing the tallest supports. Other areas in parks vulnerable to invasion by H. helix include woodlands with rich soils, slight canopy gaps. windthrown forest edges, park entranceways and accessways. During the growth season, H. helix shoots were monitored in both heavily and less invaded sites. On average, shoots on the forest floor grew 22 cm per month. and on host trees, shoots grew 17 cm per month. Another growth characteristic of H. helix is that where it is long established on host trees, its stems have radial growth rings viewable in cross-section. These rings are likely annual and sensitive to annual climatic variability. The spread of an introduced liana, a plant form not present in the indigenous flora, has several implications for near-urban forest ecology including altered physical forest structure, hastened tree death and suppression of understory species (e.g. seedlings and shrub species such as salal - Gaultheria shallon and possibly red huckleberry - Vaccinium parvifolium). The increased concentration and range of exotic, horticultural species such as H. helix, in near-urban park and forest fragments, signifies that an exotic species management strategy is urgently needed for habitat and ecosystem conservation.